Since returning from an injury, quarterback Mike Fafaul has played a major role in helping turn around the once-struggling Loyola football team.

With the game on the line against No.9 McDonogh on Saturday, the senior's late heroics guided the host Dons to their biggest win so far this season.

Fafaul threw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes, including a 10-yard strike to Deemer Class with 4:50 left, to lead the Dons to a 35-34 win over previously unbeaten No. 9 McDonogh.

"Today we really just came together as a team when it mattered," said Fafaul, who suffered internal bleeding earlier this season after taking a hit against Archbishop Spalding. "We knew their defense was really good. We just tried to take what they gave us, and our running game just really opened up. It feels great to get a win like this."

Teammate Jimmy Holder also had a monster game, breaking a 95-yard kickoff return in the first quarter, then later scoring on a 13-yard reverse to put Loyola ahead, 21-13, near halftime.

The win evened Loyola's record at 3-3, as well as 1-1 in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference, after a 1-3 start.

This one wasn't decided until the final minutes.

Class set up the Dons with a 52-yard kickoff return, which -- after a personal foul -- put the ball on McDonogh's 10. On the next play, Fafaul rolled to his right and dumped a short pass to Class, who cut in and found the end zone with 4:50 left.

Junior Jamie Dubyoski, who was 5-for-5 on extra points, kicked the point after, putting Loyola in front for good.

"We just tried to relax ourselves and do our thing," said Fafaul, who completed 12 of 21 passes for 135 yards. "We knew we were going to go down there and score. We just didn't want to make any mistakes."

McDonogh (5-1, 0-1) received stellar performances from quarterback Joel Jorgensen (12-for-23 for 260 yards and two touchdowns), running back Evan Grant (27 carries for 192 yards and two touchdowns) and receivers Denzell Walker (five catches for 109 yards and one touchdown) and Miles Crump (five catches for 96 yards and one touchdown).

In the end, however, it was the Eagles' inability to stop the Dons that made the difference.

"They have a lot of weapons on offense … and they distribute it well," McDonogh coach Dom Damico said. "You've got to be good all over the field."

This was the second game back for Fafaul, who time and again picked up key first downs on passes to receivers Jordan Floyd (six catches for 76 yards) and Class (three catches for 38 yards). Teammates said having him under center gives them a different level of confidence -- one they'll need with upcoming games against Gilman and Mount St. Joseph.

"It gives us more stability as an offense and it makes us feel better about what we can do," running back Ryan Black said.